Rats, Lice & Mice: History of Diseases & Epidemics

Catalog description

This course examines the global history of medicine and disease from antiquity until the 20th century. The overall theme is the biological and cultural impact of disease (especially epidemics) on society. The course focuses upon major historical infectious disease outbreaks e.g. plague, smallpox, AIDS, Ebola and examines the course of the disease, medical/health responses to the disease and the political/economic/cultural/social impacts upon the affected societies.